Victim Identification Flashcards
1
Q
Why is identification needed?
A
- Crime scene: an investigation into a criminal death cannot begin until the deceased has been positively identified
- Legal: assets, marriage, dependents, work, burial
- Moral: friends and relatives, social, closure
2
Q
What is cause of death?
A
- medical determination
- any condition they leads or contributes to death
- eg cancer, heart attack, gunshot wound, drowning
- can become complicated when many factors are involved
- decided by a pathologist
3
Q
What is manner of death?
A
- legal determination
- based on evidence and opinion
- usually decided by a coroner
- options: natural, accidental, suicidal, homicidal or undetermined
4
Q
What does a forensic anthropologist do?
A
- usually deals with skeletonised remains
- information from hard tissues
- may be partially fleshed and often fragmented
5
Q
What does a forensic pathologist do?
A
- typically examines a fleshed body
- information from soft tissues
- medically qualified
6
Q
What is a presumptive identification?
A
- an individual fits the biological profile of the skeletal remains
- but any number of individuals may fit the same biological profile
- tentative ID matches: clothing, possessions, location of body
7
Q
What is a positive identification?
A
- results from information exclusive to only on individual
- fingerprints, dental radiographs, prostheses and unique anomalies
- DNA
- is a legal requirement
8
Q
When is identification not a priority?
A
- resources are limited
- identification is not the mandate
9
Q
What is in the yellow antemortem booklet?
A
- W: personal data of missing person
- C: personal belongings
- D: physical characteristics
- E: medical information
- F: dental information
- G: any other information
10
Q
What is in the pink post mortem booklet?
A
- B: report on the recovery of the body from the site
- C: personal belongings
- D: physical characteristics
- E: medical informations
- F: dental information
- G: any other information
11
Q
What are the possible conclusions?
A
- Positive ID: antemortem and post mortem information matches
- Possible: consistent features, need to use additional information
- Insufficient evidence to confirm or deny
- Exclusion: the deceased individual is not who it was though to be
12
Q
What are the means of positive identification?
A
- DNA
- fingerprints
- dentition
- X-ray comparison
13
Q
What are the means of presumptive identification?
A
- personal markers
- facial superimposition
- biological profile
- personal property
14
Q
What makes up the biological profile?
A
Age
Sex
Stature
Ancestry
15
Q
What are some examples of personal markers?
A
Pacemakers
Prosthetics
Implants
Tattoos
